𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 - 𝐭𝐥

four

"who is she, hyung?" hyung- it is what namjoon asked him to address him. His korean background for sure helped him being polite and respectful and he just wanted to introduce the knowledge he learned about his country; taehyung asked after lisa left. he sure knows about her name, but he doesn't know about her whereabouts. not that he needed to know, but her presence screams he had to.

"she's a student from a university I am working in." he smiled while telling him the answers he needed. he looked at him with such meaning. "don't worry, she believes in you. she's just like me, and I know she's happy to see you."

namjoon was about to leave for school when he realized he had to feed taehyung and take care of him. he had so much time in his hands and they even shared a conversation.

taehyung asked something namjoon was scared to tell him "I always wonder why my kind is always a bait for experiments, hyung. Why do you even catch us?" namjoon cleared his throat before answering but he didn't expect what would Taehyung say next.

"to kill us, right? are you going to kill me too, hyung?" he asked. he did not mean to kill them like literally but it feels like he was being killed when the stories about human in their world tell how harsh they are and how they would examin different and foreign parts of the mermaid's body.

"hard to deny the truth, but I know you are smart enough to know the answer. but I spared you, Taehyung. And the reason the I kept you within my pad is that because I wanted to save you from all of the harsh scientists I've been working with." he smiled a bit.

"you say you can transform your tail into feet, right? why don't we try it?" namjoon suggested to change the topic.

"but, I'm afraid, hyung. Only a drop of sea water can return anything back and I'm afraid they will be scared about my appearance." Taehyung felt insecured which reminded the professor they have such feelings and minds working like human too but, how can a beauty like him be insecure enoughㅡ it's that because he feels different, left out, and he doesn't want to let Taehyung feel that way.

Namjoon checked the time and he had an hour before his first class starts.

"Don't worry, I am here and you can trust me. Just stick to me and remain by my side always and you'll be fine." he assured him.

with a heavy and deep sigh, Taehyung set his mind with an 'everything is okay.' and he tapped a pearl tied around his necklace.

Slowly by slowly, his golden tail glowed and streaks of light filled the hidden room. The golden scales slowly revealed his feet. His eyes widened and the curve of his lips began to move upward. he was glad enough he felt how it was like to have feet.

Namjoon witnessed another surreal event that occured in front of him. he was glad he was able to see these kinds of happenings within this world.

"let's go? let's get you bathe. Don't worry, it's just tap water, not sea water." Namjoon felt ecstatic. He felt giddy and joy overflowed in him.

Namjoon led him to the bathroom and taught him the basic things he need to know. He's not hard to teach and he was smart enough to learn things in a minute. While Taehyung was taking his bath, Namjoon prepared some pair of clothes he had, hoping it could fit him.

Namjoon and Taehyung arrived at the university. He was greeted by his students and he just offered a smile or a bit hi and hello. Then he hurried towards his office which is quite far from the main building. He was also a talk inside the corridors towards namjoon's office. Many suspected and hope he was a new face for a teacher.

"We are here. I taught you how to read time right?" He asked him when they entered his office.

taehyung nodded. he was taught by namjoon many basic things a human needs to know about, ever since they met since taehyung always asked him what it is like in the human world and now, he is encountering the world he used to ask for.

"wait here until eleven thirty, that's the clock over there, then if you are hungry, that's the fridge over there. if anyone enters here and asks you who you areㅡ" namjoon explained to him but Taehyung cut him off.

"Dr. Kim Taehyung, I am your little brother, just a year younger then I shouldn't forget how to act towards them. I shouldn't be friendly nor rude, I need to act in between. Fine, hyung, I know that already now hurry and go." Namjoon just laughed about how cute he is while blabbering.

It didn't take long for Taehyung to wait, he only hoped no one would come inside his office but it seems like fate was playing. He was dripping to sleep in Namjoon's desk when he heard a knock.

"come in?" he said and it turned out to be a question. he was afraid to interact with a human.

the doorknob twisted and the door opened, revealing a blonde girl who seemed familiar.

"lisa?" he asked first. the girl turned around and their eyes met.

her eyes widened in pure shock. "youㅡ Taehyung?" she was puzzled and Taehyung flashed a smile.

"Taehyung, why did you left the door openㅡ  oh. so I see you've met each other again." Namjoon went in and Taehyung glanced at the clock. it was already eleven thirty.

"oh, Mr.  Kim I thought you were in here. Sir. Park told me to bring this to you but I didn't know what class are you in so I decided to leave it here in your office."

"oh right, thank you lisa. Anyways have you took your lunch yet? you can come with us." Namjoon offered and Taehyung stood up his seat and went to lisa.

Lisa was tall enough for a girl, but he was way taller than her, about three inches or four.

and she was caught off guard when he went near her, near enough she felt like invading her own privacy.

"she'll go with us, right lisa?" taehyung asked her and ruffled her hair then he went out Mr. Kim's office. Namjoon just smiled at her thinking how smooth Taehyung was.

She was left dumbfounded and she was unable to move. she was frozen at her spot, still processing what happened. From Taehyung being a mermaid now in her schoolㅡ how he had some pair of feet, what in the world is happening?"

"let's go, lisa." still remaining at her spot, taehyung caught her by the hand and he intertwined his with hers, making sure she'll follow and have lunch with them.